Top Priority: Getting Money Out of Politics

On most issues - student debt and high-cost education, unaffordable healthcare, income inequality, climate chaos, racial injustice and mass incarceration, endless war, and many more - the reason our needs are not being met is that Big Money has taken over politics. That's why my top legislative priority is getting money out of politics. The time has come for us to reclaim our democracy!

The change we need

"Getting Money Out of Politics" includes publicly funding elections, ending the influence of big money on our political system, and affirming that corporations are not people. Reclaiming our democracy is the first step to getting our needs met. From health care and education to energy and the economy, we, the people, will only have our say when we've elected leaders who are responsive to the people, not to the lobbyists of mega-corporations and the wealthiest 1%. Winning this election is the first step.

a wealth of Solutions

There are many practical steps we can take to reverse the harmful effects of Big Money in politics and reclaim our democracy.

Appointing Supreme Court justices who are ready to overturn the disastrous Citizens United decision.

Fighting to pass a constitutional amendment making it clear that money is not speech & corporations are not people.

Implementing publicly financed, transparent elections and a campaign finance system that amplifies small donations (along the lines of the Fair Elections Now Act).

Insisting on complete public transparency regarding the funding of campaigns, so we can easily see where political candidates and elected officials are getting their money.

Eliminating super-PACs and other spending abuses.

Aggressively enforcing existing campaign finance rules.

Upholding and expanding the Voting Rights Act and ensuring that no voters are disenfranchised or prevented from participating in the political process.

I didn't make up these solutions; they are research-based, shared by a growing movement of candidates, and included in the platform of organizations like Our Revolution and Brand New Congress. No lone wolf will be able to get money out of politics. It's going to take a movement of people like you and me standing up together and declaring that enough is enough.

a clean campaign

Perhaps the most important thing that distinguishes me from the establishment incumbent I'm challenging in this race is that, unlike our current Representative in Congress, I accept no campaign contributions from corporate lobbyists.

I initially decided to run for Congress in the 2016 election after I visited the Federal Election Commission website and discovered how much money was flowing to my Representative from Wall Street and weapons manufacturers, Big Pharma and health insurance giants, telecom and fossil fuel companies, big banks, and lobbyists representing other harmful corporations.

True Story

When I met Mike Thompson in 2015 and expressed my concerns about wealth inequality, climate change, student debt, for-profit health care, and the money in politics that is responsible for it all, he told me:

I'm running for Congressbecause I believe we can!

Take Action Now

Right now, corporate lobbyists are calling the shots in Washington. They've bought out so-called Democratic and Republican lawmakers alike, and they've put the brakes on progress.

The time has come for us to stand up and say, "No More."

My name is Nils Palsson, I am an independent candidate for US Congress in CA's 5th District, and getting money out of politics is my top issue.

I am calling on thinking people, working people, and concerned citizens of all political backgrounds to get involved and support this campaign for us all.

It's way bigger than party. If we want to survive in the coming era -- let alone thrive -- we need to make some big changes, starting with reclaiming our democracy, getting money out of politics, and electing people who stand with our families and communities.

The long-time establishment incumbent I'm challenging in this race is backed by big banks, weapons manufacturers and a litany of other huge corporate PAC's. See for yourself.

If we're going to meaningfully challenge this ongoing political atrocity, it's going to take a critical mass of grassroots action, including small donations from citizens like you.

Pledged to Amend

I'm honored to have signed Move to Amend's candidate "Pledge to Amend," a statement of my solidarity with the people and my active willingness to stand up in Congress to support a much-needed constitutional amendment to make it clear that corporations are not people, money is not speech, and campaign contributions must be regulated to ensure fair elections.

When elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, I will introduce, sponsor and support legislation to get money out of politics, affirming that Congress and the states have the right to regulate money in elections. Moreover, I will use my media access to champion this cause, bring it into the spotlight of popular consciousness, and win this legislative victory for the people!

Pictured here with Move to Amend's Keyan Bliss at the 2017 Democracy Convention in Minneapolis, MN, where I was a featured presenter.

"Corporations have no consciences, no beliefs, no feelings, no thoughts, no desires. Corporations help structure and facilitate the activities of human beings, to be sure, and their 'personhood' often serves as a useful legal fiction. But they are not themselves members of “We the People” by whom and for whom our Constitution was established."